What Makes A Person Trans? Am I?

I can't speak for all genderqueer people, but as a genderqueer person, I view it as an 'other' checkbox. I feel neither male nor female, and I have no desire to identify myself on a gender binary. I don't feel at home with my body, but that doesn't come with wanting said body to be male-- I just -don't- want it to be female.

That in every day life people constantly feel the need to gender me makes my skin crawl. I can't pass as androgynous, and people won't even call me by my own name because there's a societal assumption that it's 'inappropriate' ; for a 'woman' to have a masculine name.

There are other genderqueer people who feel both male and female, and there's overlap with genderfluid people, who express gender as male, female, or other depending on their feelings in the moment.

ETA: When it comes to trans and being viewed as a disorder, it's more complicated than it seems on the surface. Being acknowledged as a disorder has a lot of implications for transitioning and how insurance should cover it. It's easy to say that it's horrible for trans to be considered a disorder, but there are people who have fought for it so that medical care is available for others like them.

I'm going to reply in reverse, starting with the last few lines.

I can understand why it seems uncomfortable for transgenderism to be identified as a mental disorder, but I think the belief reflects, in greater part, a stigma against mental disorders in general. People would be much comfortable with a medical diagnosis than with a mental health diagnosis. There's a very widely held belief that anyone with a mental illness is responsible for their own illness and that they're weirder or stranger with people than physical illnesses.

However, having a mental disorder doesn't mean a person is crazy and having GID does not mean a person should go under psychoanalysis or cognitive behavioral therapy or be institutionalized to fix the thought processes they have. Psychologists are generally in favor of transitioning procedures through the use of social change (clothing, pronouns), hormones, and surgery.

However, the reason that GID is a disorder is, because like all disorders, it can cause significant distress and impairment on a person's functioning. Someone who feels they are male but is in the body of a female can become extremely depressed, have low self-esteem, and a number of other issues.

Transitioning can also be a time when a person could use an objective third party. The discomfort in physical changes and mood swings are something that need to be kept in check. Coming out to family and friends, as well as coping with people who are unsupportive, is also something that psychologists can help with.

I really don't know much about what it means to be "genderqueer," but I personally would avoid associating that term with you largely because I see a big distinction between gender and sex.

If you wanted to identify as a woman, have breasts, and a penis, I wouldn't say that's genderqueer, because genderqueer refers to not categorizing oneself as a man or woman in terms of gender. Things like penises and vagina refer to biological sex, something that psychologists are trying to separate from the concept of "gender."

I'm sure there's some type of label out there for you (if labeling is what you really want), but I, personally, wouldn't define you as being transgender or genderqueer, but that's just me.

As a student in the therapy field, I feel I should speak up. I am also opposed to the term and I identify as transgender. There are many opponents to the use of "disorder," and there are also many solutions. By the release of the DSM V, we should have a solution, whether to call what's currently Gender Identity Disorder by Gender Incongruency. It's even been considered to be a birth defect, because it has been concluded that it's not a mental illness.

The DSM V was supposed to be out for several years now, and currently, the release date is supposed to be in May 2013 (let's hope that happens).

For the OP, MeliPixie, many people are some level of transgender; I'd venture to say the majority of the human race is some level of gender queer (even if miniscule).

Woah, birth defect? That's interesting and unsettling at the same time. Fascinating! I mean, on one level, yes. Being born the opposite gender of what you are is kind of.... mistake? Aiya, I don't think so though. As much pain and fucking torment or just weird situations that being born this way causes, I think there is value and massive knowledge to be gained from going through that struggle. In a general way, often people who go through a difficult learning situation are multiple times stronger and smarter in the end from having gone though it.

That's awesome.

I can certainly relate to most of this. And I love how fluid and unique each person is. I definitely think the whole "two genders, one 'correct' sexuality' thing is SO limiting. I feel like we're such a rainbow of different likes, wants, desires, and emotions. It's beautiful.

I have been damn curious about having a penis for a day. I wouldn't want one for a lifetime. Just a day. And it would be a busy day. Otherwise I love my female body. But I also can love and appreciate all gendered bodies as well.

I dont think you are transgender just maybe curious about how it would be to be a guy..

Genderqueer: Think outside the gender binairy!